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Charles Mabika Special Correspondent
WHEN George Shaya produced a man-of-the-match performance on March 20, 1977 to inspire Dynamos to a 3-2 victory over CAPS United at Rufaro, not many knew that this was the birth of a rivalry that would stand the test of time and produce one of domestic football’s iconic battles.
Now, 40 years down the line, the Harare Derby lives on and on the grand stage of the National Sports Stadium tomorrow, the capital’s biggest football showdown will celebrate another milestone on Sunday afternoon.
Dubbed the Harare Derby@40, the latest edition of this epic battle has created a big buzz in domestic football because, for the first time in an age, the fans have been made to wait a little longer for it to explode after it didn’t feature on the menu of the first round matches because of CAPS United’s Champions League commitments.
The match also comes amid a wave of expectations on both sides of the divide with DeMbare among the clubs battling for the league title and enjoying good form while champions Makepekepe are out to play the part of party spoilers and arrive for the Derby without a loss in their last six matches.
We have put together some 20 amazing facts about this showdown, on the occasion of its 40th anniversary, which we hope you will find interesting and, just in case you don’t, let’s hope the big match will provide what you expect.
THE FIRST ONE
The first league match was at Rufaro on 20 March, 1977 and saw DeMbare emerging 3-2 victors with man-of-the-match Shaya creating a goal each for David George and Kuda Muchemeyi and the Mastermind scoring once while predatory forward Shacky Tauro grabbed both goals for the Green Machine. Muchemeyi and Tauro are late, but Shaya and George are still around
TWO HIGHEST SCORERS
The two highest total scorers of the Derby so far are CAPS United’s Tauro (16) and Dynamos’ Moses Chunga (14)
FIRST PLAYER TO CROSS THE GREAT DIVIDE
The first player to cross the Great Divide was former Dynamos ‘keeper Matthew Mwale who joined CAPS United just after that first Derby while former right wingback Steve “Biko” Phiri (1981) was the first to don the blue jersey from Makepekepe whom he had joined after a short stint with Ziscosteel upon his arrival from Malawi.
BIGGEST SCORELINES
The biggest winning margin for Dynamos over their arch-rivals was in the 1984 Chibuku Trophy semi-final in a game they won 6-2 at Rufaro while Makepekepe trounced DeMbare 7-0 in the 1987 Africa Day Trophy semi-final three years later at the same venue, with their late skipper Joel “Jubilee” Shambo creating ALL the goals.
MHOFU COACHED BOTH GIANTS
Legendary coach Sunday “Mhofu” Chidzambwa, who also featured in many Derbies as a player, once quit Dynamos as head coach and joined Makepekepe, but he stayed there for only three months before rejoining the Glamour Boys.
SCORING DIRECT FROM CORNERS
The following players who have played in the Derby have scored direct from corner kicks, but none of them executed that skill in the Derby — Moses Chunga, Denver Mukamba, Ocean Mushure (Dynamos) and Ronald Pfumbidzai (CAPS United).
A DERBY FOR BROTHERS
There have been a total of 10 sets of brothers who have featured in the Derby — Francis and George Nechironga, David and Ronald Sengu, Elton and Cephas Chimedza, Joe and Innocent Mugabe (CAPS United); Sunday and Misheck Chidzambwa, Kembo, Moses and Dickson Chunga, Edward and Lloyd Katsvere, Tendai and Taurai Mangwiro, Claudius Zviripayi and Vitalis Takawira, Tauya and Tichaona Murehwa (Dynamos).
WHEN BUNJIRA AND SHUTTO RULED
Alois Bunjira and Stewart Murisa, who both featured in the ‘90s derbies (with Murisa having stints at both sides) picked up two top different individual accolades in 1996 — Bunjira was crowned the Kingsgate Player of the Year while his childhood colleague Murisa was crowned the Castle Soccer Star of the Year.
KING OF THE DERBY
IS MONYA
Former Dynamos skipper Murape Murape has featured in the highest number of Derby matches between the two giants — a whopping 45 appearances in almost two decades.
SOCCER STARS
OF THE YEAR
There have been a total of 18 Soccer Star of the Year winners who have played in the Harare Derby. For CAPS United — Shacky Tauro, Stanley Ndun duma, George Nechironga, Stewart Murisa, Energy Murambadoro, Cephas Chimedza, Joseph Kamwendo, Hardlife Zvirekwi. For Dynamos — George Shaya, David Mandigora, Japhet Muparutsa, Moses Chunga, Memory Mucherahohwa, Tauya Murehwa, Murape Murape, Denver Mukamba, Washington Arubi, Tawanda Muparati.
A GUY CALLED PAPA
Former CAPS United head coach Ashton “Papa” Nyazika, who guided his side to some memorable wins in the Derby, once played for the Dynamos Under-18 side as a youth player before embarking on an illustrious coaching career that took him to Glens Strikers, Panorama Strikers, CAPS United, Black Rhinos, Lancashire Steel and Masvingo United.
STIX AND HIS DREAM
In 1983, on the eve of another Derby, former CAPS United midfielder Stanford “Stix” Mutizwa had a dream that he had bought a motorcycle and had also accommodated (on the small seat) his team mates Joel Shambo and Stanley Ndunduma on the two-wheeled transporter from the motor shop to his Mbare residence. In the actual match, a day later, the Green Machine triumphed 3-1, with Stix, Shambo and Ndunduma grabbing a goal each.
A FATHER AND HIS SONS
Former Dynamos defender Hussein Amidu, who played in the 90s derbies, is the father of Abbas and Brett, both of whom have featured in the Derby.
THAT MISERABLE BARREN RUN
Makepekepe went on a seven-year winless run against their arch-rivals following a 2-0 win at Rufaro in 2009. They finally broke the jinx last season after striker Dominic Chungwa, who had returned from an unhappy stint at DeMbare, scored the only goal at Rufaro.
FOREIGN COACHES AND THE DERBY
There have been a total of nine foreign coaches in charge of the derbies so far: CAPS United — Ntibehene Bonsu (Ghana), Fewdays Musonda (Zambia), Sean Connor (Ireland), Mark Harrison (England). Dynamos — Fred Mwila, Keegan Mumba (both Zambia), Clemens Westerhof (Netherlands), Zoran Pesic (Serbia), Jose Silva (Portugal).
A TALE OF TWO LLOYDS
Both current coaches — Lloyd Chitembwe and Lloyd Mutasa — are boyhood friends who grew up playing for the same youth team in Chitungwiza.
KUTYAURIPO AND THAT COIN
Former Warriors right wing back, David “Diaspora” Kutyauripo, who featured for both sides, once had to decide — through the toss of a coin — which team he would join after his return from Cyprus in 2006 because he supported both rivals, after they had both approached him for his services.
Dynamos won that toss, but he only stayed there for three months and moved to the Green Machine for three seasons before rejoining Dynamos for three seasons.
SIX GOALS AND STILL A DRAW
The 3-3 draw in last season’s reverse fixture at the National Spots Stadium is the highest scoring draw in a league tie of the Derby. Now, bring on the first edition of the Derby@40 on Sunday.
Online Reporter